30 Healthiest Dog Breeds That Live the Longest

Ask any dog lover and they’ll tell you that the only bad part of owning a pet is that they don’t live as long as we do. We all wish our canine companions would live forever, but unfortunately they just don’t. You may be interested in one of the healthiest dog breeds that tend to live longer than other breeds known to develop diseases at a younger age.

We have all heard the line, “Mixed Breeds are healthier than Purebreds”. New studies show that this isn’t necessarily true. While things like vet care, exercise, and quality of food determine how long any dog will live, some of the healthiest dog breeds out there are genetically predisposed to be exceptionally healthy with longest lives.

Before adopting any dog, it’s important to do some research on the breed that you’re interested in. Not only will this tell you about any common health conditions that you may need to be concerned with, you’ll also learn about the dog’s temperament and any unique needs of the breed. These needs could include things like intensive grooming and anxiety issue.

While the healthiest dog breeds may not cost you a fortune for veterinary care, some of them are high maintenance in other departments. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each of the healthiest dog breeds below. Just remember that even the healthiest dog could have an accident or come down with a serious illness that will require expensive veterinary care, so don’t count it out completely.

30 Healthiest Dog Breeds That Have Long Lifespans

1. Beagle

This healthy breed has found its way into the hearts of many. A traditional hunting dog, many people prize the Beagle just for its friendliness. The Beagle can be found in homes with kids all over the world. These pups love to bark and howl and will need training to hush it up.

Dogs in this breed live about 15 years.

2. Shiba Inu

A mid-size dog, the Shiba Inu originated in Japan. While these beautiful dogs are very healthy, they do not do well in houses with kids and other pets. They need a strong master and socialization training early to keep from becoming aggressive. A clean breed, these canines clean themselves like cats.

Unusual for larger breeds, the Shiba Inu is expected to live about 16 years.

3. Siberian Husky

These affectionate fur-babies are friendly and outgoing. The Siberian Husky is of average intelligence, but they are also independent and mischievous. This combination makes for a dog that needs an experienced trainer. Dogs in this breed are double coated and prefer a mild to cold climate.

As one of the healthiest dog breeds, Siberian Huskies live to be about 12 years old.

4. Alaskan Malamute

Another breed that prefers the colder temperatures, the Alaskan Malamute is friendly and playful. If you like dogs that “talk”, then the Malamute is for you. Just make sure you have a strong, tall enclosure. These pooches love to roam and climb. While friendly with kids, this breed usually does not like other animals.

5. Bergamasco

If you watch dog shows, you have seen this dread-locked canine. Not only are they healthy, but their matted coat does not need brushing after the first year.

Bergamascos are great with kids along with being one of the healthiest dog breeds. Popularity has led to unscrupulous breeding that can lead to health problems. Make sure you get your pup from a reputable breeder.

These easy to spot dogs live about 14 years.

6. German Shepherd

Suspicious of strangers, this breed makes a great watch dog. These kid-friendly canines are energetic and great for the active family. German Shepherds are intelligent working dogs, so they are incredibly easy to train.

This breed tries to assert its authority, so a “pack leader” owner will make this dog the best it can be. These dogs don’t have a very long life span compared to other dogs on this list, but it can be increased with feeding your German Shepherd the right type of dog food that’s appropriate for this breed and providing other needed care.

They only average around 11 years.

7. Australian Shepherd

These work dogs are easy to train. They can tackle the more difficult agility and intelligence training. The Australian Shepherd is friendly and playful. If you are looking for a larger breed that loves being an active, outdoorsy dog, then this may be the breed for you.

This dog has a long life-span of about 15 years.

8. Australian Cattle Dog

This energetic breed is well-known for its intelligence, agility, and stamina. Like the Australian Shepherd, it is friendly and playful.

The Australian Cattle Dog is great for active families on the go – well, only if you intend to take your pup with you.

They are one of the healthiest dog breeds that live to be about 13 years old.

9. English Foxhound

Foxhounds love to play. They do great with kids and other pets. Like most dogs in the hound breeds, this dog loves to wander and follow his nose. To avoid a missing pet, always keep your hound dog secure.

Exercise and proper diet will extend the life of this dog, as it will with most mammals.

Foxhounds are similar in appearance to Beagles and live to be around 13 years old.

10. English Springer Spaniel

Energetic and loving, this breed will want to be with family 24/7. In fact, they won’t make a great guard dog as they just want to play with everyone. This obedient dog is easy to train and would love endless games of Frisbee and water fetch.

This healthy breed can live at least 15 years.

11. Chihuahua

Not usually thought of as one of the healthiest dog breeds, these pups are actually extremely healthy. Any bad reputation it has is due to inbreeding, so make sure you get yours from a reputable breeder. The Chihuahua is a small, portable dog that makes a terrific lap dog.

These canines have one of the longest life spans in the dog world living to be around 20 years old.

12.Azawakh

These sleek canines are almost barkless. They also have a mild manner and calm demeanor. While they don’t like cats and rowdy kids, they are affectionate with their family members. The Azawakh may seem aloof, but it is actually very attached to its owners and does better as an indoor dog.

Another healthy dog with a lower life span, these dogs live to be about 11 years old.

13. Greyhound

A graceful breed, the Greyhound is one of the healthiest dogs out there. Canines in this breed do not tolerate cold very well. These pups are very affectionate and do well in families with kids, cats, and other dogs. Highly intelligent and loyal, these dogs are easy to train. Energetic, these dogs need lots of exercise.

Dogs in this breed live to be about 13 years old.

14. German Pinscher

This is a breed that has a reputation for being aggressive. While very intimidating, these dogs are not aggressive unless trained to be. Their alertness and aloofness make them great watchdogs.

While they may be one of the healthiest dog breeds, the German Pinscher also likes to have some alone time. They do better in homes with older children or no children.

Canines from this breed also live about 14 years.

15. German Shorthaired Pointer

These affectionate dogs have short, easy to care for coats. They also shed very little. Shorthaired Pointers are friendly and playful. They have a need to make their owners happy. This combined with intelligence makes them easy to train.

16. Belgian Malinois

If you have adult (or almost) children, and no other pets, do not rule out this breed. This breed is in the class of work dogs. If you are active and want a dog that you can teach all sorts of tricks and jobs, then this is the one for you.

17. Basenji

This breed is an ancient breed has the reputation of being bred by nature. These little dogs tolerate being alone very well. Known as the “barkless” dog, they are great for apartment life.

This high-energy pup has short hair that rarely sheds and is easy to maintain.

Basenjis live about 12 years.

18. Labrador Retriever

Along with being one of the healthiest dog breeds, the Labrador Retriever is one of the friendliest dogs you will ever meet. They are also highly intelligent and love to please. For this reason, they are easy to train.

These playful pooches are lifetime puppies. They are great in homes that include kids and other dogs.

Labrador Retrievers have an average life span of 13 years.

19. Poodles

This breed is friendly with other pets, strangers, and kids. The intelligence of the poodle makes them very adaptable and easy to train. These healthy dogs are also healthy for you. They shed very little and are considered to be hypo-allergenic, have long life-spans especially if you feed your Poodle the right food.

Just make sure you are up to the task of grooming yourself, or bringing to a groomer.

20. Border Collies

Known for their intelligence, these canines are sensitive to their owner’s needs. These qualities make them great for first time dog owners and inexperienced trainers. Not only is this breed healthy, but they tolerate temperature changes well too.

Border Collies are ideal for warm or cold climates.

Border Collies have a longer lifespan making it to around 15 years old.

21. Bichon Frise

Dogs in this breed look just like little stuffed animals. These pups are not known to do well around kids and other pets, but they are loyal and affectionate with their older human masters.

The Bichon Frise is also not a barker, and they do not wander. They prefer to stick close to their person.

The average life time for these fluff balls is 13 years.

22. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

This sassy dog is also quiet entertaining. If you don’t give him “jobs”, he will often make his own work herding children and other animals.

Corgis are sturdy dogs, great in all sorts of climates, along with being one of the healthiest dog breeds. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is also easy to train and obedient.

This popular breed lives to be around 13 years old.

23. Pharaoh Hound

The Pharaoh Hound is not as well-known as some of the other breeds, but they are known to be one of the healthiest dog breeds. Pooches in this ancient breed do well in the extreme heat, but are not made for colder climates. They are desert dogs and still prefer to live that way. While intelligent, this breed is very independent and strong-willed making them a little harder to train.

Like a lot of healthy dogs, these dogs tend to live around 13 years.

24. Rottweilers

These giants of the dog community are calm and brave. They are not a hyper, in-your-face breed. Despite their reputation, they are gentle and family friendly unless trained to be otherwise. Rottweilers are usually recommended for experienced owners because of their size alone. They usually weigh around 130 pounds.

27. Shetland Sheepdog

These healthy dogs have long hair and shed easily. But to outweigh that, they are highly intelligent problem solvers.

Shetland Sheepdogs also bark little and are not known to want to break out of fences. Combine those traits with a reputation of not chewing up everything, and this is a great all around dog.

If you get one of these fur babies, expect him to live about 13 years.

26. Brittany Spaniel

These springers are light of foot and muscular. They are very loving and are great around kids and other pets, coming from a working background and being one of the best hunting dogs in history.

If that wasn’t enough, they are also intelligent and easy to train. Their energy levels and playfulness means they need more than just a walk around the block to be physically and mentally healthy.

The Brittany lives to be about 12 years old.

27. Havanese

This breed was made to be a lapdog – not a hunting dog, not a work dog. They have their job down pat. The Havanese is affectionate, inquisitive, entertaining and one of the healthiest dog breeds.

These small pups need very little exercise to be healthy. You will need to brush this pups silky coat to keep it at its best.

These fur-babies live to be about 13 years old.

28. Whippet

Another “barkless” dog, the Whippet is quiet to live around. These fast, agile dogs are friendly and social.

However, they do need a lot of exercise and do best with the active, outdoor family that loves exercising, going outside for a run and spending active time together with the dog. These intelligent dogs are easy to train. They want nothing more than to be surround by happy people.

The average life span of these canines is about 13 years.

29. Canaan Dog

The territorial Canaan is a great breed for a watchdog. They are affectionate with their owners, but they don’t like strangers. These are calm dogs that do not like being around young kids or other pets.

With almost no shedding, and no need to brush, these pups are easy to maintain

Pooches in this breed live to be about 13 years old.

30. Ibizan Hound

These streamlined, racing dogs are great with children. They also have short, easy to care for coats that keep them healthy in hot weather. If this is the dog for you, make sure you have a tall, sturdy fence. Ibizan Hounds love to run and jump and can easily escape most enclosures.

Amy is a writer who lives with her husband and daughter on the United States Gulf Coast. She has a BA in Behavioral Sciences, and volunteered for shelters through various activities, as well as fostering animals. Amy currently has 3 dogs and 5 cats.

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